Melting snowpack causing water levels to rise

PARTS OF THE STATE. MORE ABOUT THAT COMING UP IN JUST A BIT. JOE, THANK YOU. THE EFFECTS OF WHAT WE SAW THIS WINTER IS CAUSING ISSUES. THIS SPRING. WE HAVE BEEN SHOWING YOU FLOODING IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO AND THE NAVAJO NATION. REPORTER ANDRES VALLE EXPLAINS WHY MELTING SNOWPACK IS CAUSING WATER LEVELS TO RISE ACROSS NEW MEXICO’S RIVERS AND LAKES, INCREASING OUR FLOOD THREAT. THERE ARE PLENTY OF AREAS IN THE STATE WHERE I THINK WE’RE WE’RE GOING TO BE SEEING THESE RISES, THE THE STREAMS AND THE CREEKS ARE ALL GOING TO BE RUNNING KIND OF FAST AND KIND OF HIGH WITH VERY, VERY COLD WATER. THIS IS JUST A GLIMPSE OF WHAT’S TO COME. THE NAVAJO NATION SHARING PICTURES OF FLOODING IN CHILLY ARIZONA. OVER THE WEEKEND, OFFICIALS ORDERING EVACUATIONS TO GET RESIDENTS TO HIGHER GROUND. AND EARLIER THIS MONTH, WATER LEVELS IN THE JEMEZ RIVER ROSE TO FLOOD LEVELS. ALL OF THIS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF WARMER TEMPERATURES MELTING THIS WINTER. SNOWPACK. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TELLING KOAT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE MANY FLOOD ALERTS TO COME. YES, WE ARE EXPECTING TO SEE SOME MORE FLOOD WARNINGS AROUND THE STATE BECAUSE THIS IS NOT AT ALL THE ONLY PART OF THE STATE WITH A LOT OF SNOW SITTING IN TO RIVER. THE MELTING SNOW FEELING THE RIO GRANDE THAT ALLOWS CAPACITY LEVELS TO RISE AND ELEPHANT BUTTE. THERE’S A LOT OF WATER STILL COMING DOWN. THAT’S THAT’S WHY WE WILL RUN OUT OF SEASON BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF WATER. IT’S NOT WHAT’S IN THERE RIGHT NOW. IT’S THAT PLUS WHAT’S COMING DOWN, MEANING MORE WATER FOR FARMERS THIS SEASON. WE’LL HAVE WATER LEFTOVER AND SO WE’LL, YOU KNOW, PASEO DISTRICT, WHICH IS NOT A BAD THING BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT MUCH MORE WATER IN 2024 WITH MORE WATER FLOWING ACROSS THE STATE AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SENDING THIS MESSAGE TO NEW MEXICANS, SIX INCHES WILL SWEEP YOU OFF YOUR FEET. 6 TO 12 INCHES WILL FLOAT. YOUR CAR. SO BE CAREFUL AROUND THE WATER. WE’D EXPECT FLUCTUATIONS OF WATER LEVELS ACROSS NEW MEXICO, DEPENDING ON WEATHER PATTERNS ACROSS THE STATE. REPORTING SKY 7. AND THAT’S WHY KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS ELEPHANT BUTTE WATER CA

Melting snowpack is causing water levels to rise across New Mexico and the Navajo Nation this spring. The Navajo Nation ordered residents to evacuate areas near Chinle, Arizona, because of flood waters washing out roads and dirt dams."There are plenty of areas in the state where I think we're going to be seeing these rises. The streams and the creeks are all going to be running kind of fast and kind of high with very, very cold water," said Andrew Manghan with the National Weather Service. Earlier this month, water levels in the Jemez River reached flood levels. The Jemez is just one river that feeds into the Rio Grande. That water heads downstream and is held at Elephant Butte. "Elephant Butte is sitting at about 380,000 acre-feet, which is about 20% capacity," said Dr. Phil King a consultant for the Elephant Butte Irrigation District. King told KOAT that water levels at the Butte were at 13% capacity in February and they're expecting water levels to continue to increase later this spring. "There's a lot of water still coming down. That's why we'll run out of season before we run out of water. It's not what's in there right now. It's that, plus what's coming down," said King.Because of the surplus in the snowpack, water allotments for farmers will be upgraded to 14 inches this irrigation season. But even with the good news, the NWS still wants to send a message to the public."We are expecting to see some more flood warnings around the state. Six inches will sweep you off your feet, and 6 to 12 inches will float your car. So be careful around the water," said Manghan. You can expect water levels to fluctuate depending on New Mexico's weather pattern.

Melting snowpack is causing water levels to rise across New Mexico and the Navajo Nation this spring.

The Navajo Nation ordered residents to evacuate areas near Chinle, Arizona, because of flood waters washing out roads and dirt dams.

"There are plenty of areas in the state where I think we're going to be seeing these rises. The streams and the creeks are all going to be running kind of fast and kind of high with very, very cold water," said Andrew Manghan with the National Weather Service.

Earlier this month, water levels in the Jemez River reached flood levels. The Jemez is just one river that feeds into the Rio Grande. That water heads downstream and is held at Elephant Butte.

"Elephant Butte is sitting at about 380,000 acre-feet, which is about 20% capacity," said Dr. Phil King a consultant for the Elephant Butte Irrigation District.

King told KOAT that water levels at the Butte were at 13% capacity in February and they're expecting water levels to continue to increase later this spring.

"There's a lot of water still coming down. That's why we'll run out of season before we run out of water. It's not what's in there right now. It's that, plus what's coming down," said King.

Because of the surplus in the snowpack, water allotments for farmers will be upgraded to 14 inches this irrigation season.

But even with the good news, the NWS still wants to send a message to the public.

"We are expecting to see some more flood warnings around the state. Six inches will sweep you off your feet, and 6 to 12 inches will float your car. So be careful around the water," said Manghan.

You can expect water levels to fluctuate depending on New Mexico's weather pattern.

Melting snowpack causing water levels to rise

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